Strainer for drain of a clothes washer



Jan. 5, 1960 A, M. STONE ETAL 2,919,558

STRAINER FOR DRAIN OF A CLOTHES WASHER Filed Nov. 21, 1956 29Sheets-Sheet I.

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/ c s s 3 a o a 0 A4 'J '3 I Q Q J "J u 0 0 n n 0 g- 1 0 0 0 o I a 7 AIn l? 7 9 V i 4 O O IN VENT 0R5 AIDAN M. STONE e. JESSE H. BEL-CHERTHEIR ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1960 A. M. STONE ET AL STRAINER FOR DRAIN OF ACLOTHES WASHER Filed Nov. 21, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS AIDAN M.sroua b JESSE H. BELCHER THEIR ATTORNEY Jan. 5; 1960 A. M. STONE ETAL2,919,553

, STRAINER FOR DRAIN OF A CLOTHES WASHER Filed Nov. 21, 1956QShgets-Sheet s F'IG.3

INVENTORS AIDAN M. STONE JESSE H. BELCHER BY/WW THEI R ATTORNEY STRAINERFOR DRAIN OF A crorrms WASHER Application November 21, 1956, Serial No.623,600

'3 Claims. (Cl. 68-18) The present invention relates to a strainingdevice to be utilized in clothes washing machines and more particularlyto a device which prevents the passage of elongated objects into thedrain pump.

.Clothes washing machines of the automatic extraction type arecustomarily provided with a drain pump which connects with the drainport or drain conduit for draining the washing container or tub aftereach washing operation is completed. The pump is driven either from themain drive motor of the machine or from a separate pump motor and isautomatically placed into operation, at the close of the washingoperation, to drain the tub. It has been found, however, that thesewashing machine pumps are very susceptible to clogging and failure dueto solid objects getting into them as the tub is drained.

This is particularly true in horizontal axis machines wherein theclothes are washed in a rotating drum provided with perforations inorder to let the wash water onto the clothes. Any solid objectsseparated from the clothes during washing may escape through theseperforations into the tub and from there into the drain pump.

Many washers provide a perforated strainer device at the entrance to thedrain conduit to prevent these solid objects from entering the conduitalong with the drain water- These strainers provide protection bystopping most solid objects such as buttons and marbles which havedimensions that will not pass through the strainer holes. However, thistype of strainer device does not effectively stop articles such as bobbypins, wooden match sticks, nails, and straight pins or other elongated,narrow objects which have a cross sectional dimension that permits themto pass through the perforations in the strainer devices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved devicefor straining the washing liquid as it is drained from the tub wherebysolid objects are caught and prevented from entering the drain pump.

7 It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedstraining device which prevents the passage of'inarrow elongated objectsinto the drain pump.

More specifically it is the object of the present invention to provide astraining device for a sump having an arrangement of perforations andnotches which allows complete drainage of the water or liquid fromwithin the tub yet prevents the passage of elongated objectsice port bya narrow flange which extends downwardly from the periphery of thecenter portion. The center portion contains a plurality of drain holesso arranged in relation to the drain port and the flat surface on thebottom of the tub that elongated objects having a length at leastslightly greater than the height of the flange are prevented frompassing into the drain port and are trapped by the cooperating action ofthe flat surface on the bottom of the tub and the periphery or edges ofthe drain holes.

As a further aspect of the invention in order to assure completedrainage of the water from the tub, there are provided around the edgeof the downwardly extending flange a plurality of notches which permitwater to flow from the flat depressed surface region of the tub throughthe flange into the interior of the strainer device and thence to thedrain. These notches are provided only on those portions of the flangewhich lie closely adjacent the upwardly extending sides around the flatdepressed surface of the tub. Long, narrow objects are trapped by thecooperating action of the upstanding side walls, the edges of thenotches, and the flat depressed surface and thereby prevented fromentering the drain conduit with the water.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a combined clothes washing and dryingmachine with portions of the machine broken away and partly in sectionin order to illustrate details of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the machine of Fig. 1 with the sidepanel removed and with surfaces broken away to show the straining deviceof the present inventron;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the liquid holding tub showing thesump and the straining means therein;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, we have shown therein a domestic laundrymachine comprising a combination washer and dryer. The machine is of thehorizontal axis type. That is, it includes a clothes basket 1 which isrotatable about a generally horizontal axis. The basket 1 is mountedwithin an outer imperforate tub 2, and the cylindrical side wall of'thebasket is provided with a plurality of perforations or holes 3 in orderto allow communication between the basket and the tub. The basket isrotatably supported from the tub 2 by a horizontally extending shaft 4which is mounted in an elongated bearing hung from the rear wall of thetub structure. The shaft 4, as well as supporting the basket 2, alsoserves to drive it during the operation of the machine. The basket isloaded and unloaded in the usual manner through an opening in the frontwall thereof which is aligned respectively with openings in the tub andthe outer appearance cabinet 5 of the machine. A hinged door (not shown)mounted on the appearance cabinet 5 seals around the tub opening so asto close olf the tub 2 during the operation of the machine.

The tub 2 and the appearance cabinet 5 are both mounted on a suitablebase structure 6 at the bottom of the machine. The tub, specifically, ismounted thereon by means of a plurality of brackets or arms 7 which aremounted on upstanding plates 8 fixedly attached to the base. In additionto the tub and the appearance cabinet, the base 6 also mounts the basketdrive means. The drive means comprises a motor 9 connected to amultispeed transmission (not shown) which drives the basket through abelt 11. The belt 11 turns a basket drive pulley- 12 which is mounted onthe outer end of the basket drive shaft 4. The transmission assembly isshiftable between different gear ratios so that the basket 1 may bedriven at one speed for tumbling clothes and at a second higher speedfor centrifugally extracting water from the clothes.

As mentioned above, the machine illustrated is a combinationwasher-dryer. That is, it proceeds through a cycle of operations, firstwashing and damp-drying the clothes and then, if desired, completely orfluff-drying the clothes. The clothes basket 1 is driven at a slowerspeed both for washing the clothes and for tumbling them during thedrying operation and is driven at its higher speed for extracting bothwash and rinse water from them by centrifugal extraction. The machineduring its sequence of operations is under the control of a suitabletimer motor operated sequence control 13 which energizes and deenergizesthe various electrical components of the machine in a predeterminedsequence.

In order to supply water to the tub 2 for washing and rinsing purposes,the machine is provided with suitable hot and cold water supplyconnections (not shown). These supply connections discharge across anair gap into the funnel 14, and the funnel 14 discharges into a hose orconduit 15 which leads to a sump 16 mounted underneath the bottom of thetub, as can be seen in Fig. 2. The inlet water entering the sump 16first fills the sump and then rises into the tub through an opening ordrain port 17 (Fig. 4) in the bottom of the tub 2. The bottom wall ofthe tub 2 is provided with a flat depressed surface 18 having the drainport 17 therein. The sump 16 in addition to serving as a means forfilling the tub also serves as a means whereby the dirty water isdrained from the tub at the conclusion of the washing and rinsingoperations. The water is drained from the tub into the sump through theopening or drain port 17 and then is discharged from the sump through ahose 19 to a drain pump (not shown). From the drain pump the water ispassed out of the machine through a suitable waste line. It will beunderstood, of course, that the drain pump like the other electricalelements of the machine is under the control of the sequence control 13.

The water level in the tub during the washing operation is controlled bya pressure sensing device, of the type well known in the art, whichenergizes a pair of solenoid operated water valves which, in turn, admithot or cold water from the supply connections to the funnel 1 4. It willbe understood, of course, that the sensing device controls the watervalve solenoids only when suitable circuits are closed by the timeroperated sequence control 13. The water level in the tub during thewashing operation is such that the lower portion of the perforatedbasket 1 is submerged whereby the basket dips continually into the wateras it rotates. For example, in a size of the illustrated machinesuitable for domestic use having a clothes basket 26 inches in diameter,the water level in the tub during washing is about 5 inches above thebottom of the basket.

According to the present invention, there is provided over the drainport 17 upon the flat depressed surface 18 in the bottom of the tub, astraining device 21 which removes solid objects from the drain flowbefore they reach the pump. The straining device 21 is particularly welladapted to prevent the passage of long narrow objects such as nails,matches, paper clips, and bobby pins which sometimes escape the usualstraining devices.

The straining device comprises a central or roof portion 22 containing aplurality of perforations or drain holes 23. The central portion 22 isdisposed above the flat depressed surface 18 in the bottom of the tuband is supported thereon by a shallow downwardly extending flange 24formed around the periphery of the central portion 22 and resting on thesurface 18. As can be seen in Figs. 3 and 4 the downwardly extendingflange 24 lies flush against the depressed surface 18 and abuts thissurface to completely surround the drain port 17. Thus, in order forliquid to pass from the tub to the drain port 17 it must first flowthrough the straining device 21. As can be seen in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 thedownwardly extending flange 24 lies closely adjacent at least someportions of the upstanding side walls which lead from the tub to thedepressed surface on the bottom of the tub. Referring to Fig. 4, theflange portion 24a lies closely adjacent the upstanding side wall 25. Ascan be seen in Fig. 5 the flange portions 24b and 24c are closelyadjacent the upstanding sidewalls 26 and 27 respectively.

Obviously, any solid objects of greater cross sectional dimensions thanthe area of the individual drain holes or perforations 23 will beprevented from passing through the drain port 17. In order to preventlong, narrow objects such as bobby pins, nails, or paper clips frompassing through the drain port 17 and thence into the drain pump, thestrainer holes 23 of the straining device are arranged such that thereare no holes in the central portion 22 of the device in the areadirectly above the drain port 17 and immediately adjacent thereto. Theclosest strainer holes 23 with respect to the drain port 17 arepositioned far enough away from the circumference or lip 32 of the drainport 17 such that any long narrow object passing through a strainerhole, as illustrated by the match 33 in Fig. 4, is prevented by the flatsurface 18 and the edges of the strainer hole from entering the drainport. That is, the diameter of the strainer holes is such in relation tothe height of the central portion 22 above the fiat depressed surface 18that a long narrow object passing into a strainer hole is prevented bythe edges of the strainer hole from canting sufficiently to enable theobject to pass into that area underneath the cenral portion 22. It is tobe understood that, in arranging the strainer holes or perforations inthe central portion 22, the proximity of the strainer holes 23 to thatarea of the central portion 22 directly above the drain port isdependent both on the diameter of the strainer holes 23 and the heightof the central portion 22 above the flat surface 18, i.e. the height ofthe flange. That is, the smaller the diameter of the holes 23, and theshorter the distance between the flat surface 18 and the central portion22, the closer the holes 23 be placed to the area directly above thedrain port 17. Of course, the thickness of the material used inmanufacturing the strainer device will vary this somewhat, but for oneparticular thickness of material the above relationship holds true. Ingeneral, it will be seen that the desired result is basically achievedby the arrangement of the flat central roof portion 22 and the fiatdepressed surface 18 in slightly spaced and parallel relationship toeach other, with their respective openings as shown.

In order to assure the complete drainage of liquid from within the tub aplurality of notches or semi-circular holes 34 have been formed in theedges of the downwardly extending flange 24. These form a plurality ofstrainer holes for the liquid as the liquid level falls below the heightof the flange. In order to prevent the passage of long narrow objectsthrough these notches 34 the present invention provides for notches tobe formed only in those portions of the flange 24 which are closelyadjacent upstanding walls extending from the flat surface 18. Thus, ascan be seen in Fig. 3 where the curved portions 35 of the strainingdevice are not closely adjacent the upstanding walls, there are nonotches formed therein. Likewise, the downwardly extending flangeportion 24d, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, is adjacent no upstandingside wall, and therefore, contains no notches or semi-circular drainholes 34. As can be seen in Fig. 4 notches 34 are provided in flangeportions 24a and 2411 which lie closely adjacent upstanding side walls25 and 26 respectively. There are also notches (not shown) formed in thedownwardly extending flange portion 24c adjacent upstanding wall 27. Asis illustrated in Fig. 4 long, narrow objects such as the hobby pi'n38are prevented from passing through the notches by the wedging actionproduced by the cooperation of the edge of the notches 34, the flatsurface 18 and the upstanding side walls. The particular size of thenotches 34 depends on the distance between the flange 24 and theadjacent upstanding side wall. That is, the closer the flange happens tobe positioned to the side wall the larger the notches may be formed.

In order to retain the straining device in place over the drain 17 thereis provided a retaining means in the form of a U-shaped spring clip 36which is riveted, or fastened by other means well-known in the art, tothe imperforate portion of the straining device above the drain port 17.The legs of the spring clip 36 are designed to engage the undersideofthe drain port 17 and hold the straining device in place above the drainport. A handle 37 is also riveted to the central portion of thestraining device in order to provide a means for removing the strainingdevice from the drain port.

By the present invention there has been provided a new and improvedstraining device for use in a washing machine or a combinationwasher-dryer, which is effective in preventing clogging of the drainpump by solid objects carried in the drain flow. Moreover, thisstraining device is particularly adapted to prevent thepassagetherethrough of long narrow objects which are ordinarily not trapped bythe normal straining devices.

While in accordance 'with the patent statutes there has been describedwhat at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges in modifications may be made therein and without departing fromthe invention, and it is, therefore, the aim in the appended claims tocover all equivalent variation as fall within the true spirit and scopeof the invention.

It will be understood that the term clothes washing machine in theappended claims is intended to include combination washer-dryers withinits coverage.

What we claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a clothes washing machine having a liquid holding tub including aflat depressed surface on the floor thereof with a drain port positionedtherein for discharging liquid from within saidtub, a straining meanspositioned over said drain port comprising a member having a flatcentral roof portion with a plurality of strainer openings therein, ashallow flange extending downwardly from the periphery of said fiatcentral portion, said member resting on said flange upon said flatdepressed surface of said tub so that said flat central roof portion andsaid flat depressed tub surface are substantially parallel and inslightly spaced relation to each other, said strainer openings beingarranged on said center portion such as to be excluded from the area onsaid central portion lying directly above said drain port, said openingsalso arranged outwardly from said area on said center portion lyingdirectly above said drain port a suflicient distance such that elongatednarrow objects passing into said strainer openings are prevented fromentering said drain port by the cooperating action of said flat surfacesand the periphery of said strainer openings.

2. In a clothes washing machine having a liquid holding tub including aflat depressed surface on the floor thereof with a drain port positionedtherein for discharging liquid from within said tub, a straining meansposi- 6 tioned over said drain port comprising a member having asubstantially flat central portion with a plurality of strainer openingstherein, a shallow flange extending downwardly from the periphery ofsaid flat central portion, said member resting on the edge of saiddownwardly extending flange upon said flat depressed surface of said tubso that said flat central portion and said flat depressed tub surfaceare substantially parallel and in slightly spaced relation to eachother, said strainer openings ararnged on said central portion such asto be excluded from the area on said central portion lying directlyabove said drain port, said openings arranged a distance outwardly fromsaid area on said central portion lying directly above said drain port,said openings having a diameter of such a dimension in relation to saiddistance said openings are arranged from said area on said centralportion directly above said drain port tha narrow objects passing intothe straining openings are prevented from entering said drain port bythe cooperating action of said flat depressed surface and the peripheryof said straining openings.

3. In combination with a clothes washing machine having a liquid holdingtub including a flat depressed surface in the floor thereof havingupstanding side walls around the edges thereof and having a drain portpositioned therein for discharging fluid from within the tub, astraining means positioned over said drain port comprising a memberhaving a flat central portion, and a shallow flange extending downwardlyfrom the periphery thereof and supporting said straining means upon saidflat surface within said tub so that said flat central portion and saidflat depressed tub surface are substantially parallel and in slightlyspaced relation to each other, said central portion having a pluralityof straining openings therein, said straining openings arranged on saidcentral portion such as to be excluded from the area on said centralportion lying directly above said drain port, said openings arranged adistanuce outwardly from said area on said central-portion lyingdirectly above said drain port, said distance being sufficiently remotefrom said area on said central portion lying directly above said drainport and said diameter of said strainer holes being sufficiently smallin relation to the height of said flange that straight narrow objectspassing into said straining openings are prevented from entering saiddrain port by the cooperative action of said flat depressed surface andthe periphery of said straining openings, said downwardly extendingflange having a portion thereof lying adjacent at least one of saidupstanding side walls around said flat depressed portion, said flangeportion adjacent said side wall having notches therein, the adjacency ofsaid upstanding side wall to said flange portion preventing straightnarrow objects of slightly greater length than the distance between saidflange and said upstanding side walls from passing through said notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS149,489 Lewis Apr. 7, 1874 931,019 Dawes Aug. 10, 1909 1,382,992 LombardJune 28, 1921 2,079,269 Williams- May 4, 1937 2,218,276 Woodin Oct. 15,1940 2,283,160 Boosey May 19, 1942 2,336,348 Demers Dec. 7, 1943

